Impact Bound for Glory 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights
Impact Wrestling celebrated its biggest night of the year Saturday in Chicago with Bound For Glory, its marquee event, headlined by a double main event.
First, Mickie James challenged Trinity for the Knockouts Championship in a match between two of the most decorated and celebrated women in modern pro wrestling history.
Then, in the night's main event, Alex Shelley defended the Impact World Championship against the man who never lost it, "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander.
Who emerged from those two matches as champion, what else went down on the company's grandest stage, and how did it all grade out?
Find out with this recap of the October 21 pay-per-view event.
Match Card
1 of 9Announced in advance for Saturday's card were:
- Impact Wrestling World Championship Match: Alex Shelley (c) vs. Josh Alexander
- Knockouts World Championship Match: Trinity (c) vs. Mickie James
- Will Ospreay vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey
- X-Division Championship Match: Chris Sabin (c) vs. Kenta
- Monster's Ball: PCO vs. Rhino vs. Steve Maclin vs. Moose
- Impact World Tag Team Championship Match: ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) vs. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz) (c)
- Knockouts Tag Team Championship Match: MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich and Killey Kelly) (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo and Tasha Steelz
- Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match
X-Division Championship Match: Chris Sabin vs. Kenta
2 of 9
There is a reason Impact Wrestling typically leads off its pay-per-view events with the X-Division and it is because that roster has always set the pace and tone for the rest of the show.
Such was the case in the opening match of Bound For Glory 2023 as Chris Sabin and Kenta put on their working boots and delivered a fun, energetic, physical match for the title that saw the former successfully defend his X-Division title over a game opponent by way of the Cradle Shock.
Sabin, one of the original Impact stars dating back to the company's infancy, continues to deliver some of the best work of his career. While he may not be as fast or explosive as he once was, he is smarter and that experience and knowledge allowed him to put together a strong match with one of the most celebrated international stars of this generation in Kenta.,
A good way to kick off a staple show for the company.
Result
Sabin defeated Kenta to retain the X-Division Championship
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- It's appropriate that the biggest show of Impact's year kicks off with an original like Sabin defending a title against an international star from outside the company, something that has long been a staple of the company.
- Matthew Rehwoldt told a story on commentary of Kenta being the only wrestler to ever knock him unconscious. A fun little story that adds gravity to the hard-hitting style of the Japanese competitor.
- Kenta teased Go To Sleep but he shoved it off, teasing the Chicago fans who are ardent supporters of a certain hometown hero who utilizes the move he made famous.
Monster's Ball: Rhino vs. PCO vs. Moose vs. Steve Maclin
3 of 9
Bound For Glory has been home to its fair share of wild, chaotic, violent Monsters Ball matches and Saturday's was no different.
There were thumbtacks, cinderblocks, barbed wire-wrapped tables, and steel chairs as Moose, Rhino, Steve Maclin, and PCO did battle in an unpredictable setting. It was the appearance by Bully Ray and his driving Maclin through a table that took the former world champion out of the equation and allowed PCO to pick up the win over Moose.
At this point, you know what to expect from Monsters Ball and this delivered. There is most certainly an argument to be made that PCO should not still be taking the bumps that he is, and that this felt a little too much like a dumping ground for top-tier talent without anything else better to do, but the hard work was there and the crowd was into it.
That makes it an easy success, even as it pales in comparison to the classic Monsters Ball matches of bygone eras.
Result
PCO defeated Maclin, Rhino, and Moose
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- PCO entered the match a ball of fire but was instantly shut down with a back body drop over the top rope and onto a ladder, an awe-inspiring spot for a veteran competitor 55 years of age.
- "Somewhere Abyss, who popularized Monster's Ball, is watching with a toothless smile..." commentator Tom Hannifan said, referencing the innovator of the match and his role in Impact Wrestling history.
- Moose powerbombed PCO onto a pile of thumbtacks and cinderblocks, the latter's head landing hard on the penetrating, piercing hardware.
- Bully Ray hit the ring, coming eye-to-eye with Maclin, before shoving him off the top rope and through a barbed wire-wrapped table. "Who's soft now?" the Hall of Famer asked in response to Maclin's recent comments.
- Moose is out here working in what looks like dad pajamas but comfort and reliability were not enough to score him the win as PCO earned the victory.
Impact World Tag Team Championship Match: ABC vs. The Rascalz
4 of 9
Chris Bey and Ace Austin saw their reign as Impact World Tag Team Champions come to a disappointing conclusion at the hands of the sneaky, unflinchingly underhanded Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel.
Saturday night, they avenged their defeat, capitalizing on a miscommunication spot involving The Rascalz's trademark spray paint and securing the victory.
It was a nonstop, action-packed match that was light on story but it did not matter. it was markedly different than anything else on the show and highlighted the pure athleticism of the four young stars involved.
They had clearly worked with each other countless times in the past, their chemistry on full display. The result was the best match of the show to this point and an apropos finish to the heels' title reign given how many times they have utilized the spray paint to their advantage.
Result
Bey and Austin defeated Wentz and Miguel to win the titles
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Hannifan mentioned that Wentz and Miguel are undefeated as a tandem, dating back four years, which is just an absolutely wild statistic.
- The pace of this match and the amount of action these two teams have packed in from the opening bell is awe-inspiring. Just nonstop.
- Wentz attempted to use spraypaint but accidentally caught his partner in the eyes with it, setting up a finish that the fans in Chicago were quite happy to see.
"Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay
5 of 9
Can confirm, Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey ruled HARD.
Give it eleventy billion stars.
This was a Match of the Year candidate, not because of recency bias but because of the manner in which the competitors meshed unrivaled in-ring work with storytelling that included Ospreay's overconfidence manifesting itself in disrespect for Speedball.
The crowd treated the match like it was a big deal, the performers carefully crafted a bout that was built from spot to spot so that each one meant more than the last, all the way to Ospreay scoring the pinfall victory over his opponent
Hannifan reminded fans on commentary after the match that Ospreay is not done with Impact and, in fact, has a match with Josh Alexander on the books. Might that one be for the world title?
It very well could be based on the outcome of the Bound For Glory main event.
Result
Ospreay pinned Bailey
Grade
A+++++
Top Moments and Takeaways
- From his entrance theme to the way he carries himself when he steps through the curtain, there is no denying that Ospreay understands how to present himself as a star. The crowd reacted differently for him than they had any other wrestler on the show to this point.
- Bailey is a guy who has not been in the "best in the world" conversation nearly enough over the last three years. He is consistently great and can work a variety of styles versus a plethora of opponents.
- "Justified "both these guys" chants from the great Impact Wrestling fans," tweeted not Tony Khan.
- Bailey delivered a picture-perfect Ultimo Weapon but Ospreay still managed to kick out at two in a hell of a false finish.
- Ospreay with a Styles Clash, an ode to one of the founding fathers of the company. "Nearly a PHENOMENAL finish here at Bound For Glory!" Hannifan added.
Call Your Shot Gauntlet
6 of 9
Featuring: Jake Something, Eddie Edwards, Kenny King, Juventud Guerrera, Johnny Swinger, Gisele Shaw, Jody Threat, Kilynn King, Sonny Kiss, Bully Ray, Matt Cardona, Jordynne Grace, Eric Young, Joe Hendry, Brian Myers, Heath, Frankie Kazarian, Rich Swann, Jonathan Gresham, Dirty Dango
A guaranteed title opportunity was at stake Saturday night as 20 Impact Wrestling stars from the men's and women's divisions battled in a Call Your Shot Gauntlet.
Matt Cardona and Brian Myers partnered together to tally a bunch of eliminations but when the time came, the self-proclaimed "Indy God" eliminated his lifelong best friend. His stay in the match was short-lived, though, as he and Kilynn King were eliminated to bring the field down to the final two.
Grace made history, becoming the Knockout to make it the furthest in the history of the match type. Standing in her way of a championship opportunity? Bully Ray, who was looking to win the match for the second, consecutive time.
Even a hurdle as daunting as the former world champion was not enough to slow Grace, who delivered the Juggernaut Driver to score the win and etch her name in the history books.
Matches like this can be giant messes thanks to the sheer number of competitors involved but this was a fun one that featured surprises, tacked on some ongoing storylines, and highlighted more women at one time than Raw, SmackDown, and Dynamite have all week.
Result
Grace won
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- We had an Honor No More reunion as Edwards and King worked together to beat down Something.
- It's THE JUICE! There is never a bad time for Juventud Guerrera to make a cameo.
- Crazzy Steve, not involved in the match, hit the ring and attacked Guerrera. He added a beatdown of Swinger before Tommy Dreamer fought him off, ending his vendetta against ECW for the time being.
- Sonny Kiss made her Impact Wrestling debut, hitting the ring to a big pop. A great moment for a performer who never enjoyed the run in AEW she should have. A dance-off with Bully Ray ensued in a fun moment.
- Gresham attempted to eliminate his wife, Grace, but she caught him.
- Something quickly eliminated Dango, embarrassing the cocky heel.
- Grace announced that she is calling her shot for a Knockouts World Championship at Hard to Kill in January.
Knockouts World Championship Match: Trinity vs. Mickie James
7 of 9
Mickie James never lost the Knockouts World Championship.
Saturday night in Chicago, she challenged Trinity for the title in one of the most hotly anticipated matches of the night.
What started a bit off, with the competitors not quite appearing to be on the same page, developed into a solid match that told the story of friends and respected opponents devolving into a more physically intense one before the champion caught James and tapped her out to Starstruck.
James put Trinity over strong after the match, acknowledging her as the champion and the top competitor in the division, which begs the question: what is next for the future Hall of Famer?
Is she out of title contention now? Does this frustrating loss force a heel turn? What role might she lay in Jordynne Grace calling her shot for Hard to Kill in January?
They are all questions that make the Knockouts division better than it was before the match, meaning the creative decision was likely the right one.
Result
Trinity submitted James to retain
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The match started as a respectful one between two friends and babyfaces but intensified with every passing spot.
- It was nice to see Trinity not only acknowledge a power advantage over James but actually use it to her advantage in this one.
- Trinity tapped James out with Starstruck to win the match and the former 11-time Knockouts champ immediately showed her a sign of respect, paying homage to the victor in what was akin to a passing of the torch moment.
Impact World Championship Match: Josh Alexander vs. Alex Shelley
8 of 9
Alex Shelley defeated Josh Alexander to retain the Impact World Championship Saturday night in a fantastic wrestling match that saw each man target a previously established injury, culminating in the Motor City Machine Gun delivering two Shellshocks to The Walking Weapon for the win.
It was an appropriate finale to a night of great professional wrestling from the most unsung promotion in the industry. Impact has spent the last three or so years delivering banger event after banger event and like those shows, both Shelley and Alexander's contributions between the ropes have been underrated and overshadowed by the bigger two promotions
They, again, showed why they are elite performers with a quality main event that featured great psychology, logical sequences, and a finish that was a legitimate surprise.
It was what happened after that will be the most newsworthy in the coming weeks and months.
TNA Wrestling will return in January at Hard to Kill.
A rebranding of the promotion in an attempt to freshen things up and recapture the attention of the wrestling world is a great call by those in charge. As good as the shows have been, it has been a company that has been largely forgotten amid WWE's dominance and AEW's rise.
Shelley as champion to reintroduce the company he was such a vital part of during its infancy is the right call.
Result
Shelley defeated Alexander to retain the title
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Hannifan added gravity to the match revealing that Alexander had not lost a singles match in Impact Wrestling in two years.
- Shelley almost workmanlike targeted the previously injured arm of his opponent.
- Alexander answered with a Figure Four around the ring post, ala Bret Hart.
- Shelley removed the turnbuckle post during a German suplex attempt by the challenger, teasing a spot that will have significance later in the match.
Overall Rating
9 of 9Impact Wrestling delivered one of the best wrestling PPVs of 2023 from start to finish, an event that will fly under the radar but whose content cannot be denied.
Will Ospreay and Mike Bailey had a legitimate five-star match, Alex Shelley and Josh Alexander beat the hell out of each other, the tag titles changed hands in a match that can best be described as great fun, and Mickie James and Trinity carried the mantle for women's wrestling in the promotion.
The announcement of the return of TNA Wrestling was icing on the cake.
Big thumbs up for Bound For Glory.
Overall Grade: A
.jpg?w=480 "Packers Staff Moves Football")
